There’s no doubt that they call this the information age for good reason. You can read yourself into oblivion and that’s only in one aisle of the local bookstore, you haven’t even started surfing the internet yet!
However, as you know, the takkie meets the tar in every small business not in reading, or even in knowing, but in taking action so at some point you have to put the books down, turn the computer off and actually apply some of knowledge in an action plan that sees you moving forward.
Have you ever worked out what your normal time period is from deciding to take action, to actually starting to take it? Sound weird?
Well we all operate differently. Some people decide to take action and then leap up and act immediately. Others decide to act and then start thinking about what they’re going to act on first and then in a month are still planning the course of action they’re going to embark on and then they think some more, and some more and then … well I’m sure you get the picture.
Everyone is different and when you’re the owner of a small business the most important thing is to “know thyself!” Because you may be able to fool some of the people some of the time but you sure as heck can’t fool yourself! If it’s time for action in your business follow these simple 1-2-3 Steps:
First:
Keep things simple. Whatever you are embarking on simplify, simplify, simplify. The easier the steps are to implement the more likely you are to stick with it and go the distance. Write down just one thing you’ll to TODAY to start the ball rolling, and tomorrow do the same. Don’t make it a big thing, just something simple each day and you’ll soon find that in a month’s time you’ll have done over 20 things to take you in the right direction!
Second:
Take some time out to sit and think! We often have time to do things again but never seem to have time to get things right the first time … go figure that one!
Stop – think – and do the job right the first time!
Then celebrate your little successes along the way. As you accomplish little milestones celebrate with your staff, your customers, your family and your friends. Let them see that you mean business and that you’re focused on your goals.
Third:
Don’t forget to raise the bar constantly. If you keep doing the same things the same ways you’ll keep getting the same results. Go for stretch and raise that bar, who knows what you can achieve if you just keep raising that bar a little at a time.
Even the great business guru’s like Richard Branson and Bill Gates start and fledglings not knowing anything. The difference is that they never gave up and learnt from their mistakes, stretching themselves and failing forward every step of the way … maybe you’ll be next!
